Innovative Strategic Solutions, Inc: Build Her Up (BHU) Project

The Build Her Up Project was an HIV/AIDS and violence-prevention community-level collaborative based in Boston, MA, and funded as a demonstration project by the Office on Women's Health. The project provided weekly girl-centered, gender-specific HIV and violence prevention education group sessions with predominantly Black/African American girls ages 9-17 living in low-income neighborhood of Boston. The initiative was designed to reduce involvement in violence, juvenile delinquency, and HIV/AIDS and STI risk-taking behaviors by building up girls' critical thinking and analytical skills, self-esteem, and positive peer relationships.

JSI conducted the evaluation of the program including development of a logic model, data collection tools, database for data entry, process monitoring system and tools, data collection training for program staff, data analysis and reporting preparation, and also conducted focus groups.